Mooring apparatus for aircraft



July28, 1931 1-1. cs. GROS IOORING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT Filed July 2, 1930 3' Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 6- 64 fin, WM

A 970mm 11;

I July 28, 1931. 1-1. s. GROS IOQRING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT Filed July 2, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 3 RN mm m mu mm m Ms 2 m6 6 W a fim ATTORNEXS July 28, 1931. H. s. GROS IOORI-NG APPARATUS AIRCRAFT Filed July 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m 7: MR G m \w\ G v r MM H W Y. B 0

A TTORNE r5 Patented July 28, 19 31 UNITED. STATES PATENT-OFFICE HENRY o. onos, or oAxvrLLE, commc'rrcu'r, ASSIGNOR TO THE WATERBUBY TOOL COMPANY, or WATERIBURY, commc'rrcurr, A eonroaa'rrou or CONNECTICUT MOORING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT Application filled July 2,

The invention relates to mooring apparatus for air craft, more particularly of.

the dirigible lighter than air type commonly lmown as air ships, and has for an object to provide a self-propelled. mooring apparatus of simple construction, capable of handling thedirigible without the'assistance of outside power, and without the services of a landing crew. The invention further contemplates the provision of a mooring tower or mast constructed in a novel manner to be easilyand eflicieiitly raised and lowered as required by existing conditions. Other ob jects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention with-V out defining its limits, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel mooring apparatus, partly in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the mooring tower, and Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in. section, of the control means.

For the purpose of illustration and description the drawings show a somewhat schematic representation of a stub-type mooring mast embodying the novel features, it being understood that the latter are not limited to this class of masts and that they may be utilized in the construction of other types of mooring masts, with equal efficiency.

In all of its forms, the mooring apparatus comprises a self-contained unit capable of handling the dirigible without the use of outside power or the services of a landing crew, and in the illustrated example, consists of a supporting frame or platform of suitable construction and preferably of rectangular form as shown in Fig. 1. In

the example shown the platform 10 is carried by trucks, four of which, indicated as 11, are located, in suitably spaced relation, along a diagonal centre line of the platform while additional trucks 12 are located at each lateral extremitly of the platform 10 to support the same at t ese points. The trucks 11 and 12 are adapted to travel along conventional railroad tracks 13 arranged in the proper relationship and predetermined di- 1930. Serial No. 465,345.

rection preferably so as to be level with the ground; with the arrangement set forth the platform is thus carried in diagonal rela- 1 tion to the tracks 13 as shown in Fig. 1. I While the illustrated arrangement ofrunning gear and osition of the platform therein is a preferred one, for the reasons more fully set forth hereinafter, it is to be jects upwardly from t e platform 10 preferably at its central point and comprises a main section 14 suitably secured upon said platform 10, and an auxiliary section 15 in slidable telescopic connection with the section 14 so as to be vertically adjustable relatively thereto to vary the height of the tower at will. The tower is preferably of rectangular cross-section, it being understood, however, that the cross-sectional shape may be other than that illustrated, without affecting the efficiency of the novel mooring apparatus. At its upper end the section 15 carries the customary ram 16 provided with the conventional cup 17 to which the dirigible may be moored in the manner to be more fully set forth hereinafter. Suitable stays 18 extending from the section 14 of the mooring tower to the platform 10 may be provided to stabilize said tower for instance as shown in Fig. 2.

At a predetermined point upon the platform 10, preferably in registry with the diagonal centre line along which the trucks 11 are located, is suitably mounted an internal combustion engine. 19 of conventional form and; predetermined horsepower, the driving shaft 20 of which projects beyond said engine and has its free end journalled in a suitable bearing 20 fixed upon said plat form 10 as shown in Fig. 1.

The driving shaft 20 of the engine 19 is connected by means of a sprocket chain 21 and co-operating sprocket wheels with a engine 19 and constitute the means whereby the entire mooring apparatus is moved along the tracks 13 in the operation thereof. 7

. amount of fluid delivered by the The hydraulic pump 22 and the hydraulic -motors 24 are preferably of the type known as the Waterbury gear, and each include a rotary cylinder barrel 27 mounted upon a shaft 28 as shown in Fig. 4. Each barrel 27 has formed therein a plurality of cylinders 29 which areparallel with the shaft 28 and accommodate pistons 30 arranged to be reciprocated therein and connected by means of piston rods 31 with a swash plate 32 mounted for rotation in a tilting box 33. In accordance with the customary construction of the Waterbury type gearing, the tilting boxes of the motors 24 may be held at a fixed inclination to the shafts on which they are mounted, and which in the instant case, are connected by the sprocket chains with the axles 26, while the tilting box 33 of the pump 22 is mounted on the shaft 28 so as to be capable of adjustment to different angles of inclination whereby the speed of the pump 22 and consequently the speed of the motors 24 may be varied at will. That is to say the stroke of the pistons and therefore the pump in each rotation of the barrel 32 through the pipes 23 and 23 to the motors 24 to vary the speed of the latter, is governed by the. inclination of the swash plate 32 to which the pistons 31 are connected. In all other respects the motors 24 may be of the same construction and arrangement as the pump 22 illustrated in Fig 4.

For the purpose of selectively adjusting the swash plate 32 suitable means is provided and, in the present instance is located upon a control platform 34 which constitutes a control station from which the mooring oflicer may exercise the required control of the mooring apparatus; in some instances a second control station may be provided on said platform 10 at the other side of the mooring tower, in order 'to provide dual controls. In the illustrated example the control means comprises a'shaft 35 journalled in an upright support 36 mounted onthe platform 34 and provided at its upper end with a hand wheel-37 or its equivalent to facilitate the control operations; the arrangement is such that -the shaft35 is free to rotate about its axis but is held against lengthwise movement.'- The shaft 35 is connected with an internally threaded nut 38 rotatably mounted in the casing of the pump 22 for the accommodation of the externally threaded control shaft 39 on which is swivelled a vertically slidable bearing 40; the latter is fitted in a bifurcated lug 41 which projects from the tilting box 33 as shown in Fig. 4.

The driving shaft 20 of the motor or engine 19 is further connected, by means of a sprocket chain 42 and co-operating sprocket wheels or equivalent means with a hydraulic pump 43 from which pipes 44 lead to pipes 45 which in turn are connected with two hydraulic motors 46. located at diametrically opposite sides of the mooring tower as shown in Fig. 1. The pump 43 and the motors 46 may be, and preferably are, of the same type, construction and operation as the previously described pump 22 and motors 24 and the description of the latter accordingly applies also to the pump 43 and motors 46.

The motors 46 are operatively connected with the drums 47 of two hoists located in proximity to the mooring tower upon oppos'ite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1;

the connection between the motors 46 and driims 47 is preferably effected by means of suitable worm gearing 48 which itself is irreversible except by the action of the motors 46 and thus acts as a lock to prevent the section 15 of the mooring" tower from being unintentionally shifted relatively'to the section 14 thereof. Hoisting cables 49 pass from the drums 47 to and over pulleys 5O rotatably supported at the upper end of the section 14 of the mooring tower and have their ends secured at 51 to the lower end of the section 15 of said tower. Corresponding cables 52 have their ends attached at 53 to the lower end of the section 15 and pass downwardly therefrom over puileys54 journalled upon the platform 10 and to the drums 47 in reverse relation to the cables 49. The arrangement is such that when the cables 49 are being wound the driving shaft 20 of the engine 19. The

pum 55, which is suitably mounted on the plat orm 10, is connected by means of pipes 57 with a hydraulic motor 58 carried at a predetermined point on the platform 10 preferably in registrypith the diagonal centre line thereof, for instance as shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the hydraulic pump 55 and motor 58 are of the same general construction and operation as The 7 those previously described herein. motor 58 is connected by suitable earinv 59 with the drum 60 of a main ca le wmch 61 fixed upon the platform 10 and serving to operate the main cable 62 whereby the air ship is hauled in or pulled to the mooring tower. The cable- 62 passes from the drum 60 over a sheave 63 and a pulley 64 up through the centre of the mooring tower and ram 16 from which said cable passes through the cup 17 to the mooring connected with the gearing 59 to properly lay the cable 62 on the drum 60. An auxiliary drum 70 is journalled in suitable bearings on the platform 10 in proximity to the .main drum 60 and is arranged to be operatively connected with the motor 58 at Wlll or when required by means of a suitable clutch 71. The purpose of this auxiliary drum 70 is to operate the cable 72 which is connected with the airship 66 and serves to bring the latter into parallel relation to the tracks 13 in a cross-hangar wind.

To control the yaw of the airship two yaw cable winches 73 and 74 areilocated upon the platform 10 at opposite sides of the mooring tower as shown in Fig. 1, said winches including drums 75 for the accommodation of the yaw cables 76 and 77 respectively; the latter pass between pulleys 78 suitably mounted upon the platform 10 and over pulleys 79 fastened at predetermined points alongside of the tracks 13, to

the airship 66 to which said cables 76 and 77 may be fastened in any conventional manner. The drums 75 are connected, for instance by means of sprocket chains and sprokets 80 or equivalent devices with hydraulic motors 81 of the same kind-referred to hereinbefore, said motors 81 in turn being connected by pipes 82 with a single hydraulic pump 83 of the same type as mentioned above, said pump 83 accordingly being common to both motors 81; the pump 83 itself is operatively connected with the driving shaft 20 of the engine 19 for instance by means of a sprocket chain and sprockets 84 or their equivalent and is controlled to vary the speed of the motors 81 by means of a handwheel 85 and associated elements corresponding to the handwheel 37 and its co-operating parts; The handwheel 85 is located upon the control platform 34 within cer.

It will be understood that controlling means such as described with respect to the pumps 22' and 83 may also be provided for controlling the hydraulic pumps 43 and 55 likewise may include handwheels similar to the'handwheels 37 and 85 and correspondirigly located upon the control platform 34 within easy reach of the mooring ofiicer.

For the purpose of supplying current to electric lights which may be suitably distributed over the apparatus, an electric generator 86 may be operatively connected with the driving shaft 20 of the engine 19 so as to be driven thereby. 7

When it is desired to use the mooring apparatus the engine 19 is started, it being understood that the swash plates of the various hydraulic pumps occupy neutral positions so that no fluid is delivered to any of the hydraulic motors which accordingly are idle and transmit no power. If the apparatus is not alread in the desired location the handwheel ,37 is actuated to adjust the tilting box 33 and with it the swash plate 32 of the pump 22 so that the pistons 30 are caused to deliver fluid to both the motors 24. The latter accordingly transmit power by means of the sprocket chains 25 or their equivalent to the axles 26 of two of the trucks 11 and accordingly propel the apparatus along the rails 13; the direction and speed of travel may be controlled by suita 1y actuating the handwheel 37. When the desired location has been reached the handwheel '37 is operated to return the easy reach of the mooring swash plate 32 to its neutral position and to thereby stop the operation of the hydraulic motors 24.

To moor the airship 66 to the mast, the main cable 62 is attached to the cone 65 at the nose of the airship and the. proper con-- trol mechanism is operated to adjust the swash plate of the hydraulic pump 55 to an inclined position; this brings about an actuation of the pump 58 and results in a rotation of 'the drum 60 whereby the cable 62 is wound thereon. The airship 66 is thus gradually drawn toward the mooring tower and its mooring ball 65 is finally seated in the cup 17 in the customary manner. If for any reason, such as a cross-hanger wind, it should be necessary to bring the airship 66 parallel to the tracks 13 during the hauling-in operation, this may be done by operating the clutch 71 to connect the auxiliary drum with the motor 58. Under such conditions the cable 72 will be operated to bring the airship 66 into parallel relation to the tracks 13 and to hold it there. The advantages of this arrangement are that control of the cable 72 in the aforesaid maneuver may be effected .from a centralized control station on the apparatus, and that the speed of cable haul-in can be instantly varied or even reversed which is in contrast to the method of effecting speed changes in mechanical gearingr such as is included in winches which are employed in existingmoorin 'mast constructions, using gearing or similar devices.

When the airship 66 has been thus moored to the mast the handwheel 37 may be actuated to properly adjust the swash plate 32 of the pump 22 and thereby bring about an operation of the two motors 24 whereby power is transmitted to the wheels of'two of the trucks 11 .to propel the mooring apparatus along the tracks 13. The

airship 66 may thus be easily moved into the hangar, the self-contained apparatus perceptible, after which said speed may be gradually accelerated until the desired rate has been reached. In the same way, the speed of travel can be gradually decelerated when the airship nears its intended position in the hangar, and the apparatus can be brought to a stop without shock.

a To control the yaw of the airship during mooring thereof the proper handwheel at the control station 34 is operated to ad ust the swash plate of the hydraulic pump 83 and cause the latterto operate the two motors 81 and the co-operating drums 75. The cables 76 and 77 will accordingly be hauled in by being gradually. wound up on the drums 75. As long as both cables 76 and 77 are taut and the tension is "equal both drums 75 will exertthe same torque and the two cables 76 and 77 will be hauled in at the same rate of speed. Should the tension on one of the cables 76 and 77 be increased and decreased on the other due to the yaw of the ship, the hydraulic motors 81 will be caused to automatically slow down the windin speed of the one drum 7 5 andincrease tie winding speed of the other drum 75 until such time as the tension on both of the cables 76 and .7 7 again becomes equalized whereupon both drums 75 will again rotate at the same winding speed. The differential action of the two motors 81 provides an automatic take-up for the yaw cables as the airship gradually ap roaches the mooring If for any reason it should become necessary or desirable to vary the height of the mooring tower it is simply necessary to actuate the handwheel which controls the hying ofthe tower the drums 47 are rotated in a direction to wind up the cables 49 and to coincidentally unwind the cables 52. A lifting action is accordingly developed by the. cables 49 on the section 15 which raises the latter to the desired extent relatively to the section 14 of the mooring tower; in lowering the section 15 the drums 47 are rotated in the reverse direction to wind up the cables 52 and to'nnwind the cables 49. From the above it will be clear that the height of the mooring tower may be selectively adjusted to any extent within its range which is sufiicient to cover any conditions which may arise. The cables 52, in addition to their other functions, serve to counteract and prevent any unintentional raising of the section 15 under, the pull of the airship or any other forces developedthereby; it will be obvious that as the, drums 47 are operatively connected with the hydraulic motors 48 by means of worm gearing which is irreversible excepting by the action of said motors, the section 15 will be securely locked at any height above the section 14 of the mooring tower.

The novel apparatus provides a self-propelled airship mooringmast comprising an entirely self-contained unit which includes the necessagy power for the main haul-in cable, the yaw winches, means for raising and lowering the mooring tower to suit the con ditions existing at the time of landing, and means whereby the mooringmast and airship may be moved into the shed or elsewhere as required. The apparatus-is capable of.handling the dirigible or other airship without outside power and without the necessity for any landing crew, and without imparting undesirable shocks to the airship being handled. The tracks on which the apparatus is arranged to travel are located in predetermined arrangement leading from within the shed or hangar out to the landing field. The airship may be brought t the apparatus and moored to the tower as above set forth and then, whenever conditions are suitable, may if desiredbe moved by the selfspropelled apparatus into the shed. The tracks provide an even uniform pathway for the apparatus and eliminate the irregular, jerky movements which would be imparted to the airship if the apparatus travelled directly upon uneven .jrground; said tracks also reduce the power required to move the mooring mast either alone or with the airship moored thereto. In case the moorin takes place in winds of unusual velocity suitable means may be prosupporting these points.

vided for anchoring the apparatus to the track preliminary to moorlng, in order to prevefit the pull of the airship from unintentionally moving the apparatus. The entire control of the apparatus and the operation of mooring the airship thereto and moving it into the ban ar may be. accomplished by one mooring o cer who may direct the operation from one centralized point represented by the control platform 34.

With the illustrated arrangement the weight/is concentrated along the diagonal centre line of the platform and four of the carrying trucks are located along this line, with two additional trucks at opposite lateral extremities of the latform 10 for he' result is an evenly balanced construction easy to con trol and eficient in operation.

The mooring mast of rectangular crosssection included in the apparatus provides a rigid mooring device, with the upper section thereof capable of being raised and lowered with a minimum of mechanical effort. The use of the hydraulic, variable speed pumps and motors provides a very close controlof speed, and a high starting torque, which is of special advantage in connection withthe propulsion of the apparatus, in that it is necessary to start and stop such large units as exemplified by the moored airships, with considerable care and accuracy, in order to avoid damage thereto.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. Iclaimz.

1. In a mooring apparatus for airships,

the combination of a track, a platform arranged to travel onsaid track, an upwardly extensible mooring mast carried by said for controllin platform, a'plurality of hydraulic variable speed gears for raising and lowering said mast at will, and for'moving said platform along said track, and a single engine whereby all of said hydraulic gears are operated.

2. In a mooring apparatus for airships, the combination of a track system, a platform carried by trucks arranged to travel on said track system, a mooring mast mounted on said platform, a cable winch and haul-in cable arranged to haul the airship to said mast, yaw winches and cables the side sway of said airship, hydraulic variable speed gears for actuating said winches, additional hydraulic variable speed gears connectedwith at least one of said trucks for propelling said platform over said track system, and a-single engine onsaid platform common to all of said hydraulic gears for operating thesame.

3. In a mooring apparatus for airships, the'combination of a track system, a platform carried by trucks. arranged to travel able speed gears for actuating said winches,

additional hydraulic variable speed gears connected .with at least one of said trucks for propelling said platform over said track system, a single engine on said platform common to all of. said hydraulic gears for operating the same, a control platform on said platform, and controlling devices on said platform whereby the operation of said hydraulic gears is controlled.

.4. In a mooring apparatus for airships, the combination of a track system,-a platform carried by trucks arranged to travel on said track system, a mooring mast mounted on said platform, a cable winch and haulin cable arranged to haul the airship to said mast, yaw winches and cables for controlling the side sway of said airship, hydraulic variable speed gears for actuating said winches, additional hydraulic variable speed gears connected with at least one of said trucks for propelling said platform over said track system, a single engine on said platform common to all of said hydraulic gears for operatinfg the same, an auxiliary drum and cable or bringing the airship into parallel relation to said track system, and means whereby said auxiliary drum may be operatively connected at will with the hydraulic gear whereby the cable winch and haul-in cable are operated.

5. In a mooring apparatus for airships,

the combination of a track system, a rec tangular platform located in diagonal relation to the tracks of said system, a series of trucks for supporting said platform along a diagonal centre line thereof on said track system, additional trucks at'the lateral extremities of said platform for supporting the latter at these points on said track system, a mooring mast carried by said platform at approximately its central point, a cable winch and haul-in cable carried by said platform in registry with said diagonal centre line for hauling the airship to the mast, hydraulic variable speed gear located on said platform in approximate registry with said centre line for operating said winch and haul-in cable, hydraulic-variable speed gear located on said platform in approximate registry with said centre line and series for propelling the platform over said track system, and a single engine carried by said latform in registry with said centre line or operating all of said hydraulic gears.

6. In a mooring apparatus for airships, the combination of a track system, a platconnected with at least one truck of said form arranged to travel over said system,

' ling an upwardly extensible mooring mast rectangular cross-section mounted on saidcplatform, a plurality of hydraulic variable speed gears on said platform for propelling the latter over said track system, and for raising and lowering said mast, and a single engine on said platform for operating all of said hydraulic gears.-

7. In a mooring apparatus for airships, the combination of a traclg system, a platform arranged to travel over said system,

an upwardly extensible mooring mast rec-' tangular cross-section mounted on said platform, in registering diagonal relation therewith, a haul-in cable for haulingthe airship to the mast, cables for raising and lowering said mast, yaw cables for controlling the yaw of said airship, a plurality of wine es on said platform for independently operating said cables, a plurality of hydraulic variable speed gears for operat' said winches, and a sin le engine on said platform ,for operating a of said hydraulic speed gears.

8. In a selfropelled mooring apparatus for airships, t e combination of a travellatform, an extensible mooring mast on said platform, comprising a fixed section and a vertically movable section telescopically connected with said fixed section, two winding drums on said platform, opposed cables extending from each of said 'drums and connected with said movable section in opposed relation, two hydraulic motors on said platform, worm-gearing connecting each motor with one of said drums} said worm -gearmg being irreversible except by the action of said motors, a single hydraulic variable speed pum on said latform controlling and operatm both 0 i said motors, and means on said p atform for operating said pump. a i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

I HENRY e. onosf 

